You will lead the Hitachi Europe (HEU) Finance and Accounting (F&A) organisation including setting the vision and engaging with all F&A Team members, (F&A Management Team, Business Partner, Centres of Excellence); whilst ensuring delivery of a quality, joined up efficient and effective service. This requires leadership of a finance team of more than 70 staff, including indirect reports.

As the Finance Director for (HEU) you enjoy responsibly to lead, manage and develop the HEU Finance and Accounting (F&A) organisation. This will include maintaining the financial robustness of HEU and maximizing HEU and European business opportunities and results from a financial perspective. You’ll provide finance management support to HEU and minimize business risks from finance points of view and control the medium-term business plan and budget in HEU.

You’ll also ensure all parts of the F&A organisation work collaboratively in an efficient and effective manner, including service delivered by third party providers. An important part of the role will be to partner with Hitachi HQ corporate finance organisation in Tokyo and HEU executives to develop regional governance structure in Europe.

The European Finance Director reports to HEU President, with a strong functional link to Hitachi HQ Corporate organisation in Tokyo.

1 – Leadership

• Develop and manage long-term operating and quality management plans
• Ensure F&A organisation is developed in order to provide and efficient and effective service that is resourced with individuals of appropriate capability and quality so as to provide a quality and optimised service to HEU business and F&A shared service customers
• Provide leadership, direction and guidance to the Heads of Service to ensure they function effectively and collaboratively in the delivery of a fully integrated financial management servics

2 – Medium term business plan and Budget management

• Set the medium-term business plan and budget for HEU and F&A.
• Ensure agreed cost targets are met and the overall business case for HEU and F&A organisation is achieved.
• Ensure medium term business plan and budgets are properly monitored

3 – Controls

• Ensure all required controls are carried out as required by law, EU policies and relevant guidelines (e.g. J-SOX compliance).

4 – Continuous improvement

• Engender and drive through a culture of change and continuous improvement across HEU and the entire F&A organisation
• Empower direct reports and teams to create an environment of innovation in service delivery through cultural change to move to a customer focused – service provider organization.

5 – New business development

• Provide financial support to incubate new business opportunities and development. Support R&D group, business groups and executives in HEU in the expansion of business opportunity and success.

• Ensure the effective integration of Hitachi operating companies’ into the F&A shared service model by establishing an organisation, systems and processes that allow for growth.
• Ensure comprehensive understand of customer needs, shape the service accordingly and ensure successful integration of new customers into the existing model.

6 – Service delivery and management

• Set the vision for F&A shared service. Provide leadership and direction for the entire F&A organisation, ensuring they achieve or exceed all objectives.
• Work with Service Managers, Contract Managers and Regional and Global Onshore and Offshore Centre Managers, ensure operational objectives are met and that an excellent level of service to all F&A shared service Customers is maintained achieving current SLA or higher.

• Establish and maintain a Service based culture within the F&A organisation providing excellent, pro-active service to its clients
• Ensure maintenance of and adherence to the key Service Management processes including, incident and service reporting, quality control and desk top procedures, service change processes.

7 – Staffing

• Working with Managers and supervisors, develop a first-class team including creating a challenging work environment
• Ensure all employees are highly motivated and technically competent through implementing and managing the recruitment, reward, performance management and training and development systems.

• Work with Managers and supervisors, determine resourcing requirements, manage internal and external resources in a cost-effective manner, consistent with financial and budgetary agreements made with the clients
• Ensure budgets are properly monitored.

8 – Stakeholder management

• Engage with senior stakeholders in Hitachi operating companies’, Japan-side and externally to promote the F&A shared service.
• Anticipate and respond to changes in customer needs through regular liaison with customers and by ensuring that processes, systems and people remain flexible and responsive to potential changes.

• Provide effective issue management and leadership for any critical service or performance related issues arising.

We’re looking for a team player, who is motivated by delivering great work and the Hitachi vision. The role will be a mixture of hybrid work with days in the Hitachi office’s across the region.

The Finance Director will require broad skills and experience including:

• Qualified accountant with significant professional experience plus broad commercial experience
• Demonstrable experience, preferably 5 years or more, of successfully managing people within an F&A Onshore and Offshore environment
• Demonstrable success in previous roles requiring commercial, business and strategic understanding
• Ability to manage conflicting requirements and setting priorities in a complex and ever-changing environment
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to strike deep relationships at senior levels of the organisation and influence key stakeholders.
• Excellent people management skills. Ability to lead the management team and act as a role model.